localhost in FileMaker Server

[diehardfan]

I am a little confused over as to what the (localhost) address is suppose to be when you load FileMaker Server 8, the first pop-up dialog that asks you to connect. By default it is 127.0.0.1. I have tried the IP of the computer I am trying to host it says: Could not connect to FileMaker Server "(X.X.X.X)".

Is it not that I am trying to setup the computer as a server to host the database?? so why do I have to connect, others connects to me??

What IP is suppose to go in there?

Thanks

[Wim Decorte]

localhost = 127.0.0.1, also known as "home". It's always the machine you are on.

The Server Admin tool defaults to 127.0.0.1 on the assumption that most people will be administering FMS on the FMS machine. But you can install the SAT tool on a remote machine and then you'd need to specify the IP address (or DNS name) of the machine that FMS is running on.

So think of the SAT tool as just another client of FMS. It needs to connect to it.

[diehardfan]

Oh, thx for clearing that out.

btw, when I select 127.0.0.1 and press connect, I get error msg: Could not connect to FileMaker Server "(127.0.0.1)".??

[Wim Decorte]

Verify that both of the FMS services are running (Services control panel). For the SAT tool to connect really only the helper service needs to be running, for it can start the main service.

If they are not running and you can't get them to run, check the event logs and let us know what it says.

[diehardfan]

I apologize Wim Decorte for my ignorance, I am new to setting up FileMaker Server. I have never done so before, so please bare with me.

This is the screen I get when I load FMS and the pop up box when I click on the FileMaker Server Icon. I put in IP 192.168.1.1 as I was playing with different IPs, btw.

Under the Services(Local) I see FileMaker Server 8 and FileMaker Server 8 Helper.

Not sure what SAT tool is.

Under Event Viewer (Local) -->FileMaker Server 8 is blank, nothing inside.

Hope you can help me from here. Again, sorry for my lack of knowledge.

Thanks

Verify that both of the FMS services are running (Services control panel). For the SAT tool to connect really only the helper service needs to be running, for it can start the main service.

If they are not running and you can't get them to run, check the event logs and let us know what it says.

[Wim Decorte]

The screenshot is the SAT: Server Admin Tool. That what you use to interact with FileMaker Server and set it up. FileMaker Server itself consists of 2 services running in the background. These services you'll find in the services control panel and they are named:

- filemaker server 8

- filemaker server 8 helper

Both of these need to be running, which is what you can check and do in the services control panel. If they are not running the SAT tool can not connect to them.

My guess is that they are not running otherwise you would see some entries in the event viewer.

Check this FMI tech brief out for some more info:

http://www.filemaker.com/downloads/pdf/techbrief_fm8_server.pdf

[Wim Decorte]

oh, and no need to apologize, we're all here to learn. Meaning we don't know it all :)